Alleviation of salt-induced stress on seed emergence using soil additives in a greenhouse

Use of sodium chloride (NaCl) as a deicing salt results in high concentrations of ions in roadside soils, which decreases seedling emergence in these areas. Greenhouse experiments performed in soil culture tested the efficacy of three soil fertilizers, gypsum (CaSO₄), potash (potassium chloride, KCl) and potassium nitrate (KNO₃), in alleviating NaCl stress on seedling emergence of three grass species exhibiting a range of salt tolerance, Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass), Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama), and Puccinellia distans (alkali grass). Two-factor factorial designs were utilized for each species-fertilizer combination. Treatments of 5000 mg/L (0.086 M) NaCl with or without fertilizer, in concentrations that were equal to 0.5, 1, and 2 times the molar equivalent of 5000 mg/L NaCl were applied biweekly. Salt stress on Poa pratensis emergence was alleviated by all fertilizers with CaSO₄ having the greatest effect in alleviating NaCl stress and potash and potassium nitrate alleviating stress at lower treatment levels. Emergence of Bouteloua gracilis and Puccinellia distans was in most cases negatively effected by soil amendments.